Comments on: Belly Dance

By: offerte last minute

offerte last minute — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 17:48:42 +0000

offerte last minute…

[...]Belly Dance « Margaret Cho[...]…

By: Renae M.

Renae M. — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:18:17 +0000

I am visually impaired and have struggled all of my life with my weight. Somehow, in just one entry, you have expressed EXACTLY why I have come to love and value bellydance so much over the last few years.

Because of my size and my disability, I have always felt incapable, unwanted, inept, and hated myself because of my vision, my body, and how others seemed to see me because of both of these conditions. I always wanted but never felt I was worthy of the things you mention above, thanks to a lifetime of putdowns that came from others, as well as myself- eventually. I still struggle with confidence & self-esteem issues (especially when considering performing onstage- both as a dancer as well as a burgeoning singer), but you illustrate beautifully why bellydance and the culture surrounding it has such gravity, beauty & power for women, and why it’s been such a joy in my life too.

I’ve just begun taking classes in the past year or so, but aside from the mention of ceasing to dance (I dance anyway and say to hell w/what people think-at least on the dancefloor-, because that’s the ONE place where I can be free, anonymous, and get lost in my own world-outside of being in the water), you have -absolutely- told my story too- from the core of where I’ve been, as well as where I hope to be going. Thank you so very, very much for being so brave, so proud, so eloquent, and so persistent. And for speaking so freely of your own journey, because.. either purposefully or inadvertently, you have just spoken the hearts of many, many others, very possibly all around the world.

Much Love, Praise and Gratitude,
Renae M.

By: Kasi D

Kasi D — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:16:22 +0000

I realize that this is a rather old blog. But I still felt the need to respond. This post really touched me. Bellydance has been one of the few things that helped me to preserve any ounce of self esteem and self confidence I have after being in an emotionally abusive relationship. When I was a size 8/10 at 5′8″ my exboyfriend would tell me that he thought I was overweight and needed to trim down. It was ridiculous. It is also ridiculous that I stuck around for a little over 4 years.

Bellydance was the thing that saved me and still saves me to this day. It’s been 6 years and I love bellydance as much as ever!

By: One Day I Will Rule the World » Body Issues on Both Sides of the Stage

One Day I Will Rule the World » Body Issues on Both Sides of the Stage — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 04:34:22 +0000

[...] Margaret Cho explains why belly dance is so awesome for body acceptance “When you go see a belly dance show, if you look around, a lot of the women are crying. Tears [...]

By: Cat (Stagename Kali)

Cat (Stagename Kali) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:18:58 +0000

This brought tears to my eyes the first time I read it. You have no idea how much this resonates with me. I’ve had so many surgeries on my stomach that its left me with scarring and oddly shaped muscle tissue. It’ll never be flat and perfect like you see on TV, and I was made fun of for that. It wasn’t until I joined my troupe now that I began to see the beauty my unique body has. AMEN and thank goodness for belly dancing.

Also I read this aloud to my class during practice and all around the room you could see the girls taking it in and start to tear up. Such inspirational words! Thank you for finding a way to write down what so many women feel!

By: Sophia

Sophia — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:50:13 +0000

Nicely worded. Easy to relate to on many levels. Been dancing for three years. I’m still caught between “western” stomach (flat, muscled) & “eastern” stomach (not so constrained by society). Good to know this is helping another person.

By: Niatinari

Niatinari — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 02:45:31 +0000

I started belly dancing because I assumed I was too old to go back into ballet, and I knew I was too short and too round to every be taken seriously as a dancer in a school or company. I was writing myself, and my love of dance, off at 28! But belly dancing welcomed me. It is harder and more technical than I realized at first, but as each muscle becomes more familiar and the moves become less clumsy, I’m starting to feel graceful and beautiful again. And I love it! I shimmy while brushing my teeth. I dance down the aisles at work. There’s this love and acceptance and joy in it! And you’re right about using exercise as a punishment because all the ballet training was precisely that: I was trying to fit a form that was never meant for me, trying to earn the food I’d eaten or shrink the waist and legs I was born with. But in belly dancing (and in the basic yoga that’s come with it), there’s a lot more pleasure and progress. I do it for fun and then I notice how it’s getting easier.

I’m glad I’m not the only one! Here’s to the journey!

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 23:53:00 +0000

“I love it, because I love the way it has made me feel, and that’s all that matters really, isn’t it?” Yes. Yes it is. And if you’re fortunate, you’ll still feel that way after several years. I do!

By: Marrakech « Margaret Cho

Marrakech « Margaret Cho — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:00:30 +0000

[...] I practiced and practiced for hours every day to prepare for the bellydance showcase at Marrakech. Bellydance has become a major force in my life, and since performing is the natural outcome of all this [...]

By: Malena

Malena — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:50:18 +0000

I didn’t know this would help with fat